Lay-on apparatus and method



June 1, 1943. E. ERICKSSON 2,320,352

' LAY-ON APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed April 26, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l 3mm Emz' Z Efz'c/oson r Wnww Patented June 1, 1943 LAY-ON APPARATUS AND METHOD Emil Ericksson, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Standard Process Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application April 26, 1941, Serial No. 390,614

24 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in machines: and methods for registering and applying or laying down carbon tissue or like flexible sheets on printing cylinders and like forms preparatory to transferring designs from the sheet to the cylinder or other form surface. More particularly, my invention relates to apparatus and methods whereby one'or more of suchflexible sheets can be accurately registered and held prior to actualapplication to the cylinder or form, and then efficiently applied to the cylinder or form.

In its preferredembodiment the invention is herein illustrated and described as embodied in apparatus and methods wherein "sheets of carbon tissue having thereon the matter or designs to be ultimately printed are applied to the smooth peripheral surface of a printing cylinder so that the sheets and surface can be subjected successively todeveloping and etching fluids. The developed image on thesheets is thereby reproduced or etched on the surface of the cylinder. It is important that the carbon tissue sheets be accurately placed upon the cylinder surface to insure proper registration and spacing of the designs etched on the cylinder.

Prior to my invention, accurate registration of several carbon tissue sheets upon a cylinder surface usually required great skill and the labor of two or more men. In most cases where a number of carbon tissue sheets were laid down at one time,.it-was necessary to have one man for each carbon tissue to hold it registered and taut until the lay down or presser roll was moved down to contact the sheets with the cylinder. Another prior method which has proved unsatisfactory I generally has been to adhesively attach the ends of adjacent carbon tissue sheets directly to the cylindenbut this arrangement has been found to give but poor registration and it is slow. Moreover the use of adhesive on the cylinder surface is objectionable.

According to my invention, a number of carbon tissue sheets can be accurately registered and simultaneously applied to a cylinder by one man.

It isa major object of my invention to provide novel apparatus wherein one or more sheets of carbon tissue or the like are held in proper registration with a printing cylinder or other form surface for simultaneous and accurate application to that surface, and novel methods of applying said sheets to the surface.

Another object of my invention is to provide novel apparatus for holding one or more carbon tissue sheets in registered and aligned position between a printing cylinder and a presser roll so that the'sheets will be simultaneously and accurately applied to the cylinder upon movement of the presser roll against the cylinder, whereby one man can register and lay down the sheets.

Another object of my invention is to provide novel apparatus for registering and holding one end of one or more carbon tissue sheets adjacent a printing cylinder or other form and resiliently holding the otherends of the sheets so that the sheets will be held under uniform tension in'position for application to the form. Preferably the devices holding one end of the sheets are adjustable to tension all the sheets simultaneously.

Another object of my invention is to provide novel apparatus for registering and holding carbon tissue and like sheets between a printing form and a presser member wherein a support for resiliently holding one end of one or more carbon tissue sheets for positioning relative to the form is provided with a plurality of adjustable clamps to accommodate sheets of varying width. Another object of my invention is to provide a carbon tissue lay down machine having means for supporting a printing cylinder and a presser roll and registering devices for tautly registering carbon tissue sheets between the cylinder and roll, wherein one of the devices serving to locate one end of the sheets relative to the cylinder and roll is bodily shiftable to accommodate varying sizes of printingcylinders.

Further objects of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds in conjunction with the appended claims and the annexed drawings wherein:

Figure l is a photographic pseudo-perspective view of a machine embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is an end elevation partly in section of the machine of Figure 1, illustrating the relative locations of rolls and register devices, and

Figure 3 is a plan view of the registering device for holding the sheets at one end in the machine of Figure 1.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, the lay clown machine base frame II is of approximate U-shape. Supports I2 slidably mounted upon horizontal ways E3 on the frame bed carry suitable bearings or rollers M which support a printing cylinder l5 by its reduced end shafts [6. Supports [2 are moved along Ways l3 towards or away from each other by means of any suitable mechanism such as a threaded rod passing through the supports similarly to the jaws of a vise. Separation of supports I2 is controlled by manipulation of handle l0, and is provided for the purpose of accommodating printing cylinders of varying lengths.

Inwardly of supports 2, a pair of elevator members l1 are slidably mounted in vertical guides IS in supports l2. Elevators I1 are simultaneously shifted vertically in guides l8 by cooperating threaded posts 19 which are suitably connected to be rotated by a common drive shaft 2|. In order to place cylinder in the position shown in Figure 1, elevators l1 are raised by suitable actuation of shaft 2| until their upper edges are at a level above rollers l4. Cylinder I5 is then placed upon elevators 11 with its end shafts l5 supported by the upper edges of elevators I1, and rolled along elevators l1 to position over rollers i4. Elevators H are then lowered to deposit cylinder shafts l5 upon rollers l4 and thereby mount cylinder l5 for free rotation on the frame. After lay down has been completed, cylinder I5 is removed from the frame by raising elevators I1 to lift the cylinder and shafts from rollers l4, whereupon the cylinder can be rolled out in front of the machine to be removed for development and etching without danger of injuring the sheets on the cylinder surface.

The upstanding vertical end legs of frame H are provided with vertical guides or ways 22 slidably supporting bearing carriages 23. A cylindrical presser or lay down roll 24 is carried by suitable bearings 23' in carriages 23.

Movement of roll 24 towards and away from the surface of cylinder I5 is accomplished by simultaneously moving'carriages 23 along the vertical ways 22. The lower ends of a pair of posts 26 are rotatably mounted in bosses 28 formed in the upper ends of carriages 23. 'Nuts '21, fixed in the posts 26 above and below bosses 2 8, are for adjusting the lay down roll parallel to the axis of the cylinder. Posts 26 are threaded at their upper ends and pass through aperture 29 inoverhanging frame members 3!.

Posts 26 are provided with gears 32 threaded to fit on the threaded part of posts 26 and to mesh with'worms 35 on each end of shaft 33 which is journalled in bearings 34 in frame members 3|. A handwheel 36 and a motor 36a are provided for turning shaft 33. This will shift the pressure or lay down roll toward or away from the surface of cylinder l5.

Brackets 31 are secured to the lower ends of carriages 23 as by cap screws 38. Brackets 31 have substantially horizontal seats 39 on which are fitted opposite ends of the horizontal leg 4| 'of an angle member 42. The other leg of angle member 3 42 extends vertically downwardly. Registering means such as complementary pins and holes designated at 43 may be used to locate angle member 42 accurately and properly with respect to seats 39; and generally C-shaped clamps 44, pivoted to brackets 31, rigidly but detachably clamp angle member 42 on seats 35. A register bar 45 rests upon the upper side of the horizontal leg 41, and is properly located and secured thereon by a suitable means such as pins 46. The top of register bar 45 is provided with a series of upstanding rigid pins 41 which preferably extend in a line parallel to the axis of cylinder I5. I

In an alternate construction, the bar 45 is omitted and the horizontal leg 4| provided with a series of properly spaced holes along its length. Loose pins corresponding to the pins 41 may then be inserted into any of the holes in the leg 4|. The register bar 45 and the fixedly spaced pins 41 of Figure 1 may be used for some particular jobs, but when the leg 4! is provided with a series of spaced holes it can be used as a universal register bar for lining up sheets of widely varying widths by placing the pins in the proper holes to obtain a definite register as will be later described.

Adjacent the forwardrand rear parts of each of the overhanging frame members 3i are journalled pulleys 48 and 49. Flexible means, such as chains or ropes 5|, pass over these pulleys. At one end these chains are secured to counterweights 52, and the. other ends are suitably securedv as by eye bolts 53 to opposite ends of angle member 42.

Mechanism for resiliently holding one end of the carbon tissue sheets is provided on the other side, or rear, of the machine as shown in Figures 2 and 3. Parallel inclined rack bars or arms54 having rack teeth 55 thereon are pivotally supported at one end on suitable pivot assemblies 55 on the frame II. Guide blocks 51, mounted for sliding movement along rack'bars 54, carry bearings 58 which support the ends of a rotatable tension bar 59 extending parallel to the axis of cylinder l5. Teeth 5| are provided on opposite ends 'of tension bar 59 for engagement with rack teeth 55 so that tension' bar 59 moves along the rack bars in a direction generally normal to the axis :of cylinder [5 when rotated. A-large handwheel 60 is fastened to the tension bar adjacent one endso that the tension bar can easily be rotated by the operator.-

A pair of pivoteddogs 62 and 63 are attached to at'least one 'of guide blocks 51. Dog 52 is adapted to engage rack teeth 55 to' prevent movement of the guide block along the rack bar. Dog 63 is adapted for engagement with a toothed sprocket 64 fixed to the tension bar whereby rotation of the tension bar may be locked. These dogs are maintained in engagement with the rack and sprocket respectively, except when positively removed by the operator when it is desire'd to adjust the tension bar.

A series of collars 65 are mounted along the intermediate portion of tension bar 59. Collars 65 are sufficiently loose to be slidable at will along bar 59, but have sufficient frictional engagement therewith to be maintained against accidental sliding or rotation. A series of clamps 56 having jaws normally closed by spring tension are attached to the collars by coil springs 61. Each spring 51 is pivotally attached at one end to a collar 65 and at its other end to a clamp 66. v Means are provided to counterbalance the weight of the pivoted bars 54 and the tension bar and clamp devices carried thereby. Chains 68 are attached at one end to the guide blocks 51 and then pass upwardly over sprockets 69 supported .by overhanging frame members 3|. A counterweight H is attached to the free end of each chain to counterbalance the pivoted tension bar structure. Sprockets 69 are fixed toopposite ends of shaft 10 which is journaled in members 31 and carries a, handwheel 12. By turning handwheel 12, chains 58 are caused to raise or lower the tension bar structure about its pivot 56." A dog 13 is provided in normal engagement with the teeth of one of the sprockets 69 on shaftTD to maintain the shaft against rotation.

In operation, a smooth surfaced printing cyliinder to be etched is mounted for free rotation on bearings 14, and presser roll 24 raised to the position shown in Figure 2.. The carbon tissue sheets to be applied to thecylinder are adhesively or similarly. provided atone end with spring steel reinforcing blades 41.. Blades 41' are provided with spacedapertures 41." adapted to fit accurately with pins 41 of the register bar. The carbon tissue sheetsare attached at one end to the register bar by fitting blades 41' with pins 41. Any desired number of sheets of any width may be placed side by side longitudinally along the cylinder in this manner. Blades 41' of different length are provided for carbon tissue sheets of different width. Thefree ends of the sheets are passed between the cylinder and presser roll;

Clamps G6- are now attached substantially at the corners of the free ends of the carbon tissue sheets until each sheet is held inthis manner as shown in Figure 3. The looseness of the collars 65 on tension bar 59 allows them to slide along the bar to properly position them according to the width of the sheet to be clamped. Then dogs 62 and 53 are released and handwheel 60 is turned to cause the tension barto move away from cylinder I5 until the carbon tissue sheets are held under tension in aligned position relative to the cylinder.

Because of the spring and. pivot connections between collars 65 and clamps 66, all the sheets are maintained under substantially uniform tension regardless of whether collars 65 are.pre-

cisely aligned with the individual sheets. attached thereto, or whether clamps 65 are exactly placed on the sheets.

Only one operator is required to align'and attach any desired number of sheets and make them ready to be pressed down upon the cylinder.

After the sheets are registered and under tension,

the roll is lowered until it presses thecarbon tissue sheets against the cylinder surfaceas shown in the dotted line position of Figure 2. At this time,

tially horizontal plane between the tension bar and register bar when the presser roll is lowered regardless of the printing cylinder diameter. As shown in Figure 2, the vertical planes containing the axes of roll 24 and cylinder l5, are horizontally displaced so that a substantial area of contact between the sheets and the cylinder and roll surfaces is insured. After the sheet or sheets have been pressed against the cylinder in the above manner, dogs 62 and 63 are released, handwheel fill'turned to reduce the tension in springs 61, clamps 66 and blades 41 are taken off the sheets, and the lay down procedure is completed in the usual manner. Prior to the lay down operation, clamps 44 are released and swing down, and the angle bar and devices carried by it lifted upwardlyout of the way assisted by the action of counterweights 52. Due to the resilience of the springs El, it is possible to simultaneously lay down a plurality of carbon tissue sheets of varying lengths. Only one man is needed to perform the operation whether only one or a plurality of sheets are to be simultaneously applied.

The invention may be embodied in other specificforms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as. illustrative and not restrictive, the scope ofthe invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the vmeaningand range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for simultaneously applying a plurality of flexible sheets of carbon tissue or the like to the surface of a printing cylinder comprising means supporting said cylinder and a presser roll in parallel spaced relation, said roll and cylinder being relatively movable toward and from each other, and mechanism distinct from said cylinder for holding a plurality of said sheets in registry under tension in the space between said cylinder and roll, so that upon movement of said cylinder and roll together said sheets are simultaneously pressed against the surface of said cylinder.

2. In a method of applying flexible sheets or carbon tissue or the like to the surface of a printing cylinder, the steps of arranging said cylinder and a presser roll in spaced relation, arranging a plurality of said sheets side by side longitudinally of the cylinder to extend through the space between the cylinder and roll substantially out of contact with said cylinder while maintaining said sheets under substantially uniform tension, bringing said cylinder and roll together to simultaneously press the sheets therebetween, and then completing application of the sheets to the cylinder surface.

3. Apparatus for applying a plurality of sheets of carbon tissue or the like to a printing cylinder surface comprising a shiftable presser roll arranged in spaced relation to said cylinder, means arranged at opposite sides of the space between said cylinder and roll for receiving opposite ends of said sheets including means for maintaining said sheets under'substantially uniform tension, and means for moving said presser roll toward the cylinder surface so as to simultaneously press said sheets tightly against said surface.

4. In apparatus for applying sheets of carbon tissue and the like to printing cylinder surfaces, a frame having a bed adapted to receive and support said cylinder, a presser roll shiftably mounted on said frame toward and from said bed, and register means for supporting adjacent ends of said sheets, said register means being shift-able with said presser roll.

5. In the apparatus defined in claim 4, means carried by said frame for supporting the other ends of said sheets and maintaining them under tension,

6. In a lay-on machine for applying carbon tissue sheets to the surface of a cylinder, a frame; a printing cylinder rotatably supported by said frame; a presser roll adjustably positioned on said frame for movement toward and away from the surface of said cylinder; a register bar for holding one end of a carbon tissue sheet in spaced alignment with said cylinder, said bar being mounted on said frame for movement toward-and away from said cylinder; and an adjustable tension bar supported by said frame. said bar carrying means for holding the other end of the sheet.

'7. In a machine for applying carbon tissue sheets to the surface of a printing cylinder, a frame having means for rotatably supporting said printing cylinder and means movably supporting a presser roll adapted to press the sheets onto a cylinder; a register bar carried by said frame and extending along said cylinder, said bar having means for positioning and holding the ends of a plurality of carbon tissues; and a movable tension bar attached to said frame substantially parallel to said register bar, said tension bar having means for resiliently holding the other ends of the sheets to tension the sheets prior to application to the cylinder.

- 8. A device for holding a flexible carbon tissue sheet or the like in alignment with a printing cylinder, comprising a plurality of parallel arms constructed and arranged to be pivotally mounted about an axis parallel to the axis of a printing cylinder bearing support in a lay-on ma chine; register means for holding one end of said sheet; a tension bar supported by and movable along said arms generally parallel to said pivotal axis; and means carried by said tension bar for holding the other end of said sheet, whereby the sheet is maintained fiat and under tension prior to application to a printing cylinder.

9. A device for holding and applying a carbon tissue sheet to a rotatable printing cylinder comprising a pair of parallel arms pivoted about an axis; a tension bar supported by and movable along said arms, and sheet attachment means resiliently supported by and freely shiftable along said bar.

10. A device for holding and applying a flexible sheet to a printing cylinder, comprising a pair of parallel arms mounted for pivotal movement about an axis, rack teeth on said arms; a tension bar having gear teeth cooperating with said rack teeth to support said bar on said arms and enabling said bar to move along said arms when rotated; and means for locking said bar against rotation 11. A device for holding and applying a sheet for application to a rotary printing cylinder, comprising a pair of parallel arms mounted for movement about an axis parallel to that of a printing cylinder, rack teeth on said arms; a rotary tension bar having gear teeth cooperating with said rack teeth to support said bar on said arms and adapting said bar to move along said arms when rotated; and a plurality of rotatable members freely movable lengthwise of said bar, each member carrying a spring; and a sheet attachment clamp attached to the spring.

12. In a lay-on machine for applying carbon tissue sheets to the surface of a cylinder, a frame; a printing cylinder rotatably supported by said frame; a presser roll; means attaching said roll to said frame for movement toward and away from the surface of said cylinder;

- a register bar for holding one end of a sheet of carbon tissue in spaced alignment with said cylinder; a means detachably securing said register bar to said first-named means; and a tension bar supported by said frame, said bar carrying means for holding the other end of the sheet and tensioning said sheet in position relative to said cylinder.

13. In a lay-on machine for applying carbon tissue sheets to the surface of a cylinder, a frame; a printing cylinder rotatably supported by said frame; a presser roll; means attaching said roll to said frame for movement toward and away from the surface of said cylinder; a registered bar detachably carried by said means in spaced alignment with said cylinder; a longitudinal series of registering pins on said bar; a device having means cooperating with said registering pins for reinforcing one end of the carbon tissue sheets and locating them on said register bar; and means engaging the other ends of the sheets to tension them in flattened condition between the presser roll and printing cylinder.

14. For use in a lay down machine having means for rotatably supporting a printing cylinder and a presser roll or applying carbon tissue sheets thereto, means for holding the ends of the sheets to position them in flattened condition adjacent the printing cylinder, said means comprising a reinforcing and positioning blade which is attachable to substantially a whole end portion of a sheet, and said means being provided with means for registering it relative to the printing cylinder supporting means.

15. In a lay down apparatus, a register bar for carbon tissue sheets comprising an elongated rigid member provided with means for supporting a plurality of spaced upstanding register pins and with means for locating said bar in position parallel to the printing cylinder on a lay down machine frame.

16. The apparatus defined in claim 15 wherein the register bar is provided with a series of openings for receiving individually removable pins.

17. In a lay down apparatus, a shiftable tension bar, a plurality of longitudinally slidable members on said bar, individual springs attached to each of said members, and clamps at the free ends of said springs.

18. In a lay down apparatus, a frame, a tension bar carrying a series of sheet holding clamps, support means on which said bar is shiftably carried, and means shiftably mounting said support means on the frame.

19. In a lay down apparatus, a register bar having a plurality of upstanding spaced pins arranged in longitudinal spaced relation, a tension bar generally parallel to said register bar, means providing relative movement of said bars toward and from each other, and a series of sheet attachment clamps slidably and rotatably mounted on said tension bar.

20. In combination, a printing cylinder; a presser roll supported for movement towards said cylinder; and means for holding a carbon tissue sheet in tensioned alignment for proper registration upon said cylinder upon engagement between said cylinder and presser roll.

21. In combination with a printing cylinder and a presser roll adapted for movement to press a sheet against the surface of the cylinder; means for registering and supporting one end of a plurality of carbon tissue sheets in alignment rela tive to said cylinder; and means engaging the other ends of said sheets to tauten and position the sheets between the roller and cylinder.

22. In combination with a horizontal printing cylinder; a presser roll movable to engage the periphery of said cylinder; means for registering and holding at least one sheet in tensioned alignment between said cylinder and roller, said means being vertically adjustable to permit alignment of said sheet with printing cylinders of different diameters.

23. In combination, a printing cylinder; a presser roll movable into engagement with the surface of said cylinder; means for registering and holding one end of a plurality of carbon tissue sheets, said means being movable towards said cylinder with said presser roll; and means engaging the other ends of the sheets to position and tension them between the roller and cylinder.

24. In combination, a printing cylinder; means for pressing a sheet against its surface; registering means for holding one end of a carbon tissue sheet in spaced relation to said cylinder; means engaging the other end of the sheet to tension and position the sheet relative to the cylinder, said last-mentioned means being adjustable to permit positioning of sheets of different lengths relative to cylinders of different 5 diameters.

EMIL ERICKSSON. 

